Richie McCaw named Six Nations stadium as very best for atmosphere

The former All Blacks captain, who led his team to two World Cup victories, has played in nearly every major rugby arena, but a few hold a special place in his heart.

Let’s take a closer look at McCaw’s favourite rugby grounds, the atmosphere they offer, and some quirky details that make them legendary.

McCaw’s top choice for atmosphere? The iconic Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Known for its electric vibe when the roof is closed, McCaw fondly recalls the incredible energy of the crowd that echoes through the 74,000-seat arena.

"It is great to be playing with the roof closed as that creates both a great atmosphere and a dry ball," said Richie McCaw. The indoor setting makes the venue unique, creating a cauldron-like effect where sound bounces around, making it incredibly loud. Whether you're Welsh or not, the cheers (and jeers) surround you from all angles.

Despite the deafening noise, McCaw loved the challenge:
"It can be extremely noisy but then it is the same for both sides and you just have to do your best to get your messages over to your mates."

This stadium, originally known as the Millennium Stadium, is nestled in the heart of Cardiff and is as iconic for its retractable roof as for the history it holds. From World Cup finals to Six Nations clashes, it's a venue that every player wants to experience.

For McCaw, this stadium is in a league of its own:
"It is certainly one of my favourite places," he said. And who can blame him? Few rugby venues boast the atmosphere of Principality on a match day.

McCaw also holds South Africa's Ellis Park in high regard. Located in Johannesburg, this is a venue drenched in history, perhaps most famously known as the site where South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup. For McCaw, playing at Ellis Park was as intimidating as it was exhilarating.

"Ellis Park is one of the great stadiums to play test rugby at, even though it is tough and intimidating," McCaw wrote on his Facebook page.

What makes Ellis Park so daunting? The high altitude of Johannesburg, combined with the passion of the home fans, gives the Springboks an edge. At 1,753 meters (5,750 feet) above sea level, it’s known to sap the energy of even the fittest athletes. The chants of "Bokke! Bokke!" resonate through the concrete structure, making it a cauldron for visiting teams.

The stadium's open design ensures that no roof can muffle the roar of 60,000 fans. Built in 1928, Ellis Park remains one of the most storied and intense rugby environments in the world. It’s not just the physical challenge of playing at altitude—it’s the sense of history and national pride that you can feel in the air.

Ireland’s Lansdowne Road, now replaced by the state-of-the-art Aviva Stadium, was another standout for McCaw. The flanker cherishes the memories of playing at both the old Lansdowne Road and its ultra-modern successor.

"There's no doubt the current Aviva is an amazing place to play, but to have played at the old Lansdowne Road a couple of times... I was pretty lucky to get to play at both," McCaw said, reflecting on the ground’s evolution.

The old Lansdowne Road was a stadium with character, grit, and history, where the noise from the crowd felt like it was pressing down on you from the rickety stands. Built in 1872, it was the oldest rugby stadium in the world before being replaced by the Aviva.

While the Aviva boasts a sleek, modern design with its eye-catching curved roof, McCaw still holds a soft spot for the original, especially with its unique location—straddling a train line. When Lansdowne was redeveloped, trains had to be factored into the design, making it a quirky feature of a world-class stadium.

One of the most special memories for McCaw didn’t happen in a traditional rugby stadium. During the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, Ireland’s rugby team moved temporarily to Croke Park, traditionally a GAA stadium, home to hurling and Gaelic football.

"I'll tell you what – the one great experience we had when it was being rebuilt was to play at Croke Park. I understand the history of Croke Park and that was pretty cool," McCaw shared.

Sir Clive Woodward's England lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy for the first - and so far only - time in 2003, after a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in extra time.

Woodward's side are still the only northern hemisphere side to win the World Cup, with the other nine tournaments won by South Africa (four), New Zealand (three) and Australia (two). 

In a video posted by England Rugby's Instagram account, Wilkinson - who scored the all important drop goal 28 seconds from time - said: 'It's great being back with all the guys from the squad 20 years on.

'It's great to be able to see everyone, and to get a feel of what everyone's been up to, but also to I guess get a feel for why we were able to do what we did 20 years ago, because it still lives on in everyone.'

Take a look at how some of the key players look now:

A former Gloucester and London Wasps prop, Phil Vickery called time on his career at the end of the 2010 Premiership season.

The two-time British & Irish Lion was a revered opponent across the world, and has since started a successful clothing brand 'Raging Bull', with his on-field nickname. Vickery was forced into retirement due to a series of neck injuries, and in 2012 he joined Worcester Warriors as their Scrum Coach.

Vickery has also tried his hand at sports broadcasting, as he was apart of the commentary team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

His on-screen appearances have also been witnessed across a variety of TV shows, including 'Celebrity MasterChef', which he won in 2011. An eternal fan favourite at Kingsholm Stadium, Vickery was appointed the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015.

Renowned for his iconic drop-goal that secured victory against Australia in the 2003 final, Wilkinson transitioned into a coaching role with Toulon, focusing on kicking and skills development following his retirement. He also now works as a pundit for ITV Sport during Rugby World Cup's and the Six Nations.

Greenwood continued to shine on the international stage following the 2003 glory, and went on to represent the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand.

He ended his career at Harlequins in 2006, and soon gave his experienced views through analysis and punditry. Greenwood co-hosted the 'School of Hard Knocks' TV series with former Wales international Scott Quinnell, and was an on-screen analyst for ITV as England reached the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Will has also explored opportunities away from rugby, and is the current Chief Customer Officer for data and software company Afiniti's London office. Greenwood's family was struck with tragedy, after his son Freddie died just 45 minutes after being born.

The former England centre underwent an inspirational walk to the North Pole in memory of his son, and helped to raise over £750,000 for Borne's research. Greenwood is a patron of Borne, who are a medical research charity that work with cases of premature birth. He is also a patron of Child Bereavement UK, which is a charity that support parents who have lost a child.

Tindall, who earned an impressive 75 caps for England, held the distinction of being the final player from the 2003 squad to retire when he bid farewell to his playing career in 2014. Adding a touch of royalty to his life, he tied the knot with Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, in 2011.

Since then, he's frequently spotted alongside royalty at various sporting events and public engagements, embodying a blend of athletic prowess and regal connections. He also presents The Good, The Bad, And The Rugby podcast.

Kay amassed 62 caps for England throughout his eight-year international career, retiring in the summer of 2010. Since then, he has contributed as an analyst for various prominent broadcasters and held a role as a non-executive director at Leicester Tigers from 2014 to 2021.

The openside flanker for England in 2003 transitioned to coaching roles post-retirement, notably at Leeds Carnegie and Rugby Lions. His tenure culminated in leading an undefeated 2011/12 season with Rugby Lions in the fifth tier, securing both a league title and cup victory. His last full-time coaching position was at Edinburgh, concluding in 2013.

Dallaglio has followed in the footsteps of Wilkinson and Dawson, becoming a well-known rugby pundit. He provided coverage for the Rugby World Cup on ITV in 2011.

Additionally, he is renowned for his philanthropic efforts, having founded the Lawrence Dallaglio Foundation. This organisation aims to empower young people through sport and supports teenage cancer trusts by raising funds.

Cohen ended his rugby career with Sale Sharks, having previously also represented Northampton Saints and French club Brive. An inspirational activist, the former winger founded The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation in 2011, which works on raising awareness regarding the impacts of bullying and implements “real-world work to stop it”. Cohen is an leading activist for LGBTQ+ rights, and in 2013 was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame. 

Due to having a hearing issue called tinnitus, Cohen is clinically deaf. He lacks approxmiatly 30% of his hearing in both ears, and he is a campaigner for increased accessibility within rugby for hard of hearing people. Cohen met his partner Kristina Rihanoff on TV show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and the pair have since had a daughter together. Cohen has appeared on numerous reality TV shows, including The Jump, The Celebrity Chase and has worked with charity Sports Relief. 

Since retiring from playing, two of England's victorious 2003 front-rowers have embarked on distinct paths. Hooker Thompson opted for a lifestyle change, relocating to Dubai. At 45 years old, he assumed ambassadorial roles for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation and was appointed as a sports ambassador for Transguard, a security and facilities management services company.

However, Thompson's journey took a poignant turn when he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in December 2020. In a significant gesture, on September 23, 2021, he publicly expressed his desire to donate his brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Regarded as one of England's finest wingers in history, this dual-code legend left an indelible mark by scoring his team's sole try against Australia on that historic occasion. Since then, he has reconnected with rugby league in a coaching role, serving as joint operations manager for the Jamaica national team.